Released in 1999 by Warner Bros. in partnership with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, this theatrical trailer introduced American audiences to the first Pokémon feature film, arriving at the height of Pokémania as the franchise crossed from television and trading cards into cinemas. The promotional reel circulated in advance of the movie's wide release, building anticipation for a phenomenon that would become one of the best-performing animated properties of its decade. Trailers from this period were struck and distributed on 35mm alongside feature prints, making surviving fragments a tangible record of how the franchise was marketed to a theater-going public rather than a home viewing one.
This cell centers on Charizard, the evolved form of Ash Ketchum's Charmander line and among the most recognizable and sought-after Pokémon in the franchise's history. Its pairing with Ash situates the moment within the core trainer-and-partner relationship that anchored the series' appeal. As a trailer cell, this fragment belongs to the promotional run meant to showcase the film's signature creature before audiences ever saw the feature itself, making it a piece of early franchise marketing history.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm release trailer print of Pokémon: The Movie (1999).
Gauge
Four perforations per frame along both edges and three full frames in view, which is the 35mm layout.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges, rounded-rectangle holes, evenly spaced and cleanly punched with no tears visible.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track runs between picture and lower perforations, with Dolby Digital data blocks in the gaps between the lower perforations.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture
Base & colour
Pale blue-green base with neutral to slightly warm dye image; no fading or red shift seen.
Projection history
No scratches, splices or cue marks seen at this size; one small dark speck sits on the upper edge.
Picture
Positive image, three consecutive frames of one continuous shot, and the animated style is consistent with the Pokémon film on record.
Era check
Optical track plus Dolby Digital blocks on a clear-based positive print fits a 1999 35mm theatrical release print, so the film on record is plausible.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000069912
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
